Thanks. I'll read the revised version later and offer help if I have any.

GreggC wrote:
- quote -

I recently had memory problems with my computer. Unfortunately the result
was either WinXP closing Money, or WinXP bluescreening while in Money. This
has resulted in problems with my money file. The problems became evident
when, after repairing the computer, I was balancing some credit card
statements.

When I started the balance routine, the correct previous balance would be in
place. I would enter the ending balance and proceed to the next step. At this
point, the area that contains the "the difference between your statement and
the register is:" should have been zeroed out, or become zeroed out when all
necessary information was entered. In several different accounts, this was
not the case.

I performed a standard file repair, saving the report. Then I attempted to
balance the same credit card accounts. Had the same problem.

Upon closer inspection, many of the payments made, via "Manage scheduled
bills and deposits", were listed as a charge in the checking account, and
also a charge in the credit card account. Actually the dollar amount was
listed in the credit column of the credit card account but the actual
transaction box was a charge box with the amount in parenthesis. The
information in the transaction box was
grayed-out and uneditable.

I printed out the file repair report and started to go through and enter a
new transaction for each repaired transaction. I would go to the original
checking account transaction, cross check the transaction in the specific
credit card account. If the "repaired" transaction was as previously
described, I would enter a new transaction in the checking account.

During this procedure, after entering the name of the credit card account,
the category would autofill as credit card payment-credit card name. I would
complete the transaction, then delete the "repaired" transaction, then mark
the transactions as reconciled.

I have come across a couple of transactions that are not entered in the
charge transaction form of the credit card account, but in the transfer
transaction form of the credit card account. Shouldn't all credit card
payments be uniform, either a charge transaction or a transfer transaction?
Which is the correct transaction form
for a credit card payment? Any other input on this rather lengthy post would
be greatly appreciated!

And please, have patience with a newbie.

Sorry Chris, I'll try to revamp.

"Chris Cowles" wrote:

- quote -

May I suggest separate paragraphs? It's really hard to read. I stopped.

GreggC wrote:
- quote -

Cal - My confusion comes from the way in shich the bill pay information is
entered into the Money accounts.

Say I go into Bills & Deposits. I then select Bank of Italy Credit Card -
Pay Online. I have structured the Bank of Italy Credit Card to be paid (from
Bank of Des Moines Checking) as a "Bill", category Credit Card Payment,
sub-category Bank of Italy.

After the payment is posted, it appears in Bank of Des Moines Checking as a
withdrawal or charge. It appears in Bank of Italy Credit Card as a charge
also, although with the payment amount in parenthesis. The information in the
transaction dialogue box for the payment is greyed-out, or uneditable.

It seems to me that it should appear in the Bank of Italy Credit Card
account as a credit. Any ideas?


"Cal Learner-- MVP" wrote:

- quote -

In microsoft.public.money, GreggC wrote:

- quote -

I did not follow your whole story. However here are three ways I
like:

1. When you process the first transaction of the credit card
payment, set the category as a transfer to the other ( credit card
or bank account), or use the equivalent "SPECIAL Credit Card
Payment" category. When you process the second transaction,Money
should match it. Be careful to not just Accept if Money did not
find the match on its own for some reason. Click Change and match
it to the transfer you already made if Money did not match it for
you. I would consider this the classic of the ways I like.

2. In method 2, don't handle credit card payments as transfers or
the pre-defined "Credit Card Payment Instead create one category of
"CC payment" or some such. If you define the category as an
expense category, expect a warning when you use it to represent the
payment within the credit card account -- if you have the warning
enabled. Just click Yes in response to the warning. The category
should net at zero in reports across accounts, and you can still
customize to ignore the category if you like. [this is Bonnie
Synhorst's favorite method.]. This method is relatively simple with
the least impact if you neglect to change the category.

3. Create a suspense account.
I have one I call "In Transit", and I called it a "cash or other"
account. Change each of the downloaded transactions into transfer
to/from that account. That account will normally have a zero
balance except while funds are in transit. Make your credit card
payments as transfers to and from that account. This method will
appeal to the desire for best representing what is happening.

I don't have a comment on the bill pay aspects of your questions.

- quote -

Break your long posts into paragraphs.

I posted the following a couple of days ago. I have not received any
response, so I thought I'd try again.

I recently had memory problems with my computer. Unfortunately the result
was either WinXP closing Money, or WinXP bluescreening while in Money. This
has resulted in problems with my money file. The problems became evident
when, after repairing the computer, I was balancing some credit card
statements. When I started the balance routine, the correct previous balance
would be in place. I would enter the ending balance and proceed to the next
step. At this point, the area that contains the "the difference between your
statement and the register is:" should have been zeroed out, or become zeroed
out when all necessary information was entered. In several different
accounts, this was not the case. I performed a standard file repair, saving
the report. Then I attempted to balance the same credit card accounts. Had
the same problem. Upon closer inspection, many of the payments made, via
"Manage scheduled bills and deposits", were listed as a charge in the
checking account, and also a charge in the credit card account. Actually the
dollar amount was listed in the credit column of the credit card account but
the actual transaction box was a charge box, and the information therein was
grayed-out and uneditable. I printed out the file repair report and started
to go through and enter a new transaction for each repaired transaction. I
would go to the original checking account transaction, cross check the
transaction in the specific credit card account. If the "repaired"
transaction was as previously described, I would enter a new transaction in
the checking account. During this procedure, after entering the name of the
credit card account, the category would autofill as credit card
payment-credit card name. I would complete the transaction, then delete the
"repaired" transaction, them mark as reconciled. I have come across a couple
of transactions that are not entered in the charge transaction form of the
credit card account, but in the transfer transaction form of the credit card
account. Shouldn't all credit card payments be uniform, either a charge
transaction or a transfer transaction? Which is the correct transaction form
for a credit card payment? Any other input on this rather lengthy post would
be greatly appreciated!

P.S. - In looking at bills payed on 8/19, almost all credit card payments
appear in the credit column, but are set in a charge transaction form with
the amount in parenthesis. Again, all the information is greyed-out in the
transaction form. Why is it behaving this way?